Switch-operating device.



No. 709,183. Patented- Sept. I6,.|902.

AJ. F. STUPAB.

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

. (Application led Jan. 4, 1902.) (No Model.)

MMA-5555 /IVVENTGAS Jiu/ ar O F'.

Patented Sept. I6, i902.

ose E \I la J. & F. STUPAB.

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE. l

(Apu t 51d J 4 19021 (No Model.)

Patented Sept. I6, |902.

J. & F. STUPAB.

SWITCH DPEBATING DEVICE.

(Applicszibn med Jan. 4. 1902.-)

3 Shdets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

u o r. n a w @Witnesses ------.atlas-application of our invention.

UNITED STATES PATENT JOSEPH STUPAR AND FREDERICK STUPAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-OPERATING DEVICE.

,SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,183, dated September 16, 1902.

Application led January 4, 1902. Serial No. 88,600. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH STUPAR and FREDERICK STUPAR, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Switch-Operating Device, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates generally to switchoperating devices, and more particularly to an improved mechanism whereby a train can pass in one direction without operating the switch and also by means of which the operating-lever is automatically locked after each operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch-operating device which shall be of such construction that a passage of a train between the main and switch rails will not affect the switch-operating mechanism.

The invention consists also in the novel features of construction and combination hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figure l is a plan View illustrating.;` Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the switch-operating device, the top section of the case being removed and the signal-shaft shown in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the device,taken ou the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 4 isa sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the lever-locking mechanism. Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a slight modification ot' the same. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional viewon the line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8 S of Fig. t5. Figs. 9, l0, and ll illustrate a modified arrangement for holding the segment Fin position.

Referring tothe drawings, A indicates the main rails, and A and A2 are the switch-rails, and Bis the operating-barconnected thereto. The end of this operating-bar is pivotally connected to an arm C, which is rigidly attached to the lower end of a shaft D, suitably journaled in the casting, comprising the lower section E and upper section E', said shaft D projecting a suitable distance upwardly through the upper sections E' and oarryilm` a signal D' at its upper end, which signal may be in the nature of a board, iiag, or lantern. The shaft D has a beveled toothed segment F rigidly mounted thereon, said segment having a radially-projecting finger G, carryinga roller G, which is adapted to bear against the spring H, said spring being formed of strong rod metal secured within the casting upon the pins H', at each side thereof, the ends of the spring overlapping or crossing each other, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. The toothed segment F is arranged to mesh with the beveled pinion I, mounted upon the end of a shaft K, journaled horizontally within the case E between the upper and lower sections thereof, the end of said shaft projecting a con-f Y.

siderable distance beyond the said casting and having the collar L rigidly mounted thereon, said collarhaving a clutch-recess L produced therein. rlhe operating-lever M is loosely mounted upon the end of the shaft K and has a clutch-collar M integral therewith, which is adapted to engage the collar L upon the shaft K when the said operating-lever has moved a suiiicient distance upon the shaft to bring one of its clutch projections into register with the clutch-recess L', a spring N surrounding the shaft and bearing upon the end of lever serving to automatically throw the clutch-collars into engagement, and the continued movement of the operating-lever Will then cause the shaft to be rotated in the direction of the lever, and the rotation of this shaft will operate the pinion and transmit motion to the toothed segment, thereby operating the shaft D, arm C, and consequently the switch-operating bar B. In case a train is passing in the direction indicated by the arrow the flange of the wheel passes between the main rail A and the switch-rail Azfwill cause the said switch-rail to be forced slightly away from the said main rail, and the movementof the bar B caused thereby will be communicated to the arm C and shaft D, so that the segment will be vibrated to a certain extent; but the pressure of the spring upon the roller carried by the finger will tend to hold the said parts in their proper positions, and inasmuch as the operating-lever is loose upon the shaft K the vibratory motion of the parts will not be communicated to the operatinglever. In order to provide for the automatic locking of the lever, we provide castings O, which are arranged upon opposite sides of IOO the shaft K and in line with the operatinglever. Each casting comprises a guide mem ber O' and a housing O2, in which is pivoted a locking-catch O3, said catch being normally projected outwardly by means of a spring O" and an angular arm Ol", said arm O5 being pivoted adjacent to the lower end of the housing and adapted to engage a shoulder OG, formed upon the lower end of the catch O3, the lower end of the spring O4 holding the said arm O5 into engagement with the catch. A rotary hub OT is arranged within the housing and provided with radial fingers O8, which are adapted to engage the arm O5 and trip the same so as to disengage the end of the catch, thereby permitting the locking-lever to be passed beneath the end of the catch. This hub()T is operated by means of a key which is inserted therein through one side of the housing, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7.

In Figs. G and 8 we have shown a slightlymodified form of mechanism for locking the catch, a spring Oghaving its end O10 brought into engagement with the shoulder end of the catch O3, and'in order to disengage the said spring we arrange a rotary hub O11 in one side of 'the housing and which is provided with lugs or extensions O12, which engage the spring and press same downwardly whenever it is desired to disengage the lower end of the locking-catch.

It will thus be seen that we provide a switch-Y operating device which is sim ple and durable and one which will not be impaired by the rapid passage of a train passing through the switch at full speed, and it will also be noted that the bending or breaking of the tie-bars and the crank-arm is entirely avoided owing to the yielding properties of our switch-operating mechanism.

In Figs. 9,10,and ll ofthe drawings we have shown a dierent form of tension device for holding the segment F in position. In this form we employ helical springs H2, one end thereof being connected to arms H3, having portions H4, that bear against the rollers G. The opposite ends of the springs are connected to yokes H5, to which are connected bolts I-I, that protrude through the casing E, as clearly shown in the said gures. It will be readily seen that by operating the bolts the tension upon the arms may be easily regulated to compensate for the wear upon the arms or rollers and also to regulate the wear of the springs.v It will also be understood that this device is not only a spring-switch stand, but also an automatic switch-operating device, whereby a train passing in the direction indicated by the arrow will operate the switch by means of the anges upon the. wheels in exactly the same manner as the` lever, as the shaft K will turn in the collar of said lever, thereby allowing said lever to remain locked, except when said lever is operated manually to throw the switch. The movement of the bar B will cause the segment F to be turned one-fourth, thus forcing the, rollers on the end of finger to pass the curved or bent portion of the arms and spring on the opposite side thereof.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a switch-operating device, the combination with an operating-bar, a crank-arm to which said bar is connected, of the shaft carrying said crank-arm, an operatingflever, means for connecting the operating-leverwith the shaft a shaft upon which the said operating-leveris loosely mounted, gearing connecting the said shaftcarrying the lever, and the shaft carrying the crank-arm, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

2. In a switch-operating device the combination with the operating-lever carrying a clutch-collar, of the horizontal shaft also provided with the clutch-collar and provided with a spring for throwing the said collars into engagement, a pinion carried by the horizontal shaft, a toothed segment adapted to engage the`pinion, a vertical shaft carrying the said segment, said shaft carrying a signal at its upper end, and a crank-arm at its lower end, said crank-arm being adapted for engagement with the switch bar, substantially as described.

3. In a switch-operating device, the combination with the switch-bar and crank-arm, of the vertical shaft to which the crank-arm is attached, the toothed segment mounted upon` t the vertical shaft and having the finger car` rying a roller, a spring against which the roller bears, a horizontal shaft carrying a pinion at one end, and a clutch-collar adjacent to the opposite ends an operating-lever loosely mounted upon the said horizontal shaft and provided with aclutch-collar adapted for engagement with the collar upon the shaft, and a spring for forcing the said collars into engagement, substantially as set forth.

et. In a switch-operating device, a leverlocking mechanism comprising a guide member, and the housing, a locking-catch pivoted in the said housing and provided with a shoulder at its lower end, a spring-actuated arm arranged within the housing and adapted to engage the said shoulder end of the catch, and a rotary hub adapted to engage the said spring-actuated arm for the purpose of (lisengaging the same and releasing the lever, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH STUPAR. FRED. STUPAR.

x/Vitnessesz A F. KRAETZER, JOSEPH Koi/traan.

ICO

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